Permutation-padlock.



NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROWAN GIBSON, or GAFFNEY, sourn OAROLINA,ASS1GNOR oE' ONE- FIFTH TOJEFFERSON o. SPARKES, ONE-FIFTH TO ROBERT L. RYRD,

ONE-FIFTH TO ROBT. F. GIBSON, AND ONE-FIFTH TO EDWARD R. CASH, OFGAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA.

PERMUTATlON-PADLOCK.

No. 830,500. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed October 31, 1905. Serial No. 285,286.

' has for its object to provide such a lock of simple and economicalconstruction composed of parts which may be readily assembled andconveniently and easily separated lation of the shackle thereto and Fig.8 is a for the purpose of changing the combination.

The invention resides in a combination or permutation padlockconstructed as and having the features hereinafter described.

That Which is regarded as new will be set forth in the clauses of claimappended to the description.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating what I regard as the bestknown embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section taken at right angles to that shownin Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, aperspective of members of the plural-member core. Fig. 5 is aperspective of one of the tumblers. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one formof key. Fig. 7 is a detail of a different form of key, showing therefragmentary section showing the end of the key and adjacentcooperative parts.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates generally aplural-member core, shown in the drawings as consisting of two likesemi-elliptical parts 1 1 the plane opposing faces 1 of which arepreferably oblique to provide opposing cam-surfaces for the purposehereinafter set forth. The circumferential faces of said members 1 and 1are provided with a plurality ofchannels or grooves 2, in which work thehereinafter-described tumbler-disks 3, and at one end each member of thecore is provided with a tumbler-supporting shoulder 4. According to oneof the illustrated embodiments of the invention said core members areconstructed at one end with countersunk seats 5 to receive the head of akey-confining screw 6, as hereinafter set forth and illustrated in Fig.1 of the drawings. This detail is, however, purely preferential, as thekey may be secured in place by means illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 or inany other suitable manner.

The numerals 7 designate a plurality (to the particular number of whichmy invention is not restricted) of rings designed to be rota tablyassembled upon the plural-member core, and adjustably associatedtherewith are the disks 3, the elements 3 and 7 when com bined togetherconstituting compound tumblers, which are the type of tumblers Irecommend, but to which, as will appear by several of theappended'claims, my invention is not restricted.

In the illustrated example of my invention the disks 3 are disposedflush in seats 9, provided therefor in rings 7. The passages 10 in thedisks, in which the plural-member core is arranged when the parts areassembled, are of less diameter than those of the rings, whereby theshackle-engaging rims 11 thereof extend inwardly beyond the inner wallsof the rings, and at diametrically opposite points the rims of the disksare mutilated or cut away to provide ways 12 to permit the insertion andwithdrawal of the shackle, as hereinafter set forth.

The parts hereinbefore referred to constitute what may be termed thebarrel of the padlock. Said parts are assembled by arranging the ringsand the disks associated therewith upon the plural-member core, whichmay be readily effected by first stringing the rings and disks upon onemember of the core, then introducing the other member ofthe core withinsaid rings and disks, after which the key 13 may be introduced betweenthe members of the core. The parts thus assembled are securely held inoperative relation by a key 13, having a head 14, which engages one endof the members of the coreand fashioned at its other end to accommodatefastening means. The key is centrally disposed and provides at oppositesides thereof shackle-guides 13 between the parts of the core. As shownin Fig. 6, said key is provided with a screw-head recess 15, in the baseof which is formed the female member 1 6 of a screw connection. Therecess 15 when the key is in position is in coincidence with thescrew-head seats 5, provided in the members of the core. According tothis embodiment of my invention when the screw 6 is adjusted the barrelmembers of the lock are held together thereby. The screw preventsdisplacement or removal of the key, and so long as the latter is inplace the core and tumblers are held by the engagement of the disks 3with the channels of the core.

In Figs. 7 and 8 one end of the key is provided with a long narrow head18 of sufficient length to fit within and yet with facility be removedfrom a ring 7*, with which is combined a disk 3 having ways similar tothe ways 12 of the disks 3. The key-head 18 is provided with a channel 2When the ring 7 a is rotated to bring the ways of the assoclated disk 3into register with the head 18, the key may be withdrawn, and when saidring is shifted to bring the disk 3 into the channel 2 of the key thelatter is locked in position and the ring 7 and disk 3 are confined inproper relative position upon the core. In this arrangement and as shownthe members of the core may be extended flush with the ring 7 to fillout the same and the extension be provided with a channel similar to thechannel 2 to afford an extended bearing and guideway for the disk 3.

The key 13 is preferably tapering longitudinally, the edges thereofdiverging from the shackel-entering end to facilitate the entrance ofthe shackle into the barrel. Said key 13, furthermore, is preferablyprovided with wedge-shaped sides 13 to accord with the cam-faces of themembers of the core, the purpose of which cam-faces and wedge shape ofthe key is twofold. First, by reason of the fact that the key is of lesswidth than the diameter of the core members the chamber between saidcore members when the barrel is assembled is sufliciently commodious atone side to permit the introduction of the key with facility, afterwhich the key may be moved to occupy the central position with relationto the core members illustrated in the drawings, and by the cooperationof its wedge-faces against the cam-faces of the core members it servesto separate the pluralmember core until the disks have properly enteredthe channels 2 thereof. When the key is in position, it is obvious thatsaid disks cannot leave said channels, but are retained, together withthe rings with which they are associated, in proper operative relation.

The shackle 19 comprises legs 20 of shape and proportions toenter andfit the guideways 13 In the outer edges of the two shackle-legs areprovided notches 21, that cooperate with the disks to secure the shacklein the barrel when the rings are rotated to establish engagement of saidnotches and disks and with stops 22 to limit the..deg'r'be of insertionof the shackle within the barrel to insure that when it is fullyinserted therein the notches will be accurately in line with the disks,so that when the rings are rotated the disks may pass without hitch intosaid notches. When it is desired to release the lock, the rings arerotated to bring the ways 12 of the disks into alinement or register,

whereby the shackle may be withdrawn longitudinally in a straight path.

When, as illustrated, the barrel elements are assembled, thesemi-elliptic members of the plural-part core are spaced apart by thekey to present an interrupted cylindrical core upon which the tumblersaccurately fit to rotate.

I/Vhen my invention is embodied in connec tion with compoundtumblers,-as shown, to change the combination, the members of the barrelare removed, as described, and the position of the disks 3 with relationto the rings 7 altered, as may be desired. Means are provided tomaintain any given adjustment of the disk. Such means, of which oneexample is shown, may consist of a dowel-pin 23 upon the disks adaptedto engage in any one of a series of sockets 24 in the rings. Theposition of any given disk or disks may be shifted, resulting in achange of combination, and to guide in establishing the combination eachpin-and-socket connection is given an appropriate designation, whichis.indicated on the face of the rings, as by numbers, as shown, soarranged with relation to the plural-member core that when thecombination signs are in coincidence with an indicator 25, associatedwith the core, the ways 12 of the disks 3 will register with theshackle-legs and the shackle may be inserted or withdrawn.

It will be apparent that it is only when the ways of the disks are inalinement or register that the shackle can be inserted or withdrawn andthat when the shackle has been inserted rotation of one or more of therings serves to establish engagement of a disk or disks with the notchesof the shackle and se curely lock and confine the latter in the barrel.Great variety of combination or permutation may be secured by shiftingthe position of the disks in or with relation to the rings, and thediversity of change may be increased by increasing the number of ringand disk elements. My invention is not confined to the number oftumblers employed nor to the details heretofore set forth otherwise thanas may be stated in some one or more of the clauses of claim appendedhereto and then only for the purpose of those particular clauses.

By my invention I provide a combination or permutation lock having anovel arrangement and combination of elements, producing a lock ofsimplified construction and economical manufacture and the parts ofwhich may be readily assembled for operation and separated for thepurpose of alteration of combination or permutation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a combinatlon or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, a tumbler rotatably arranged thereon and providedwith shackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, and a key interposedbetween the members of the core.

2. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core provided with tumbler-channels, tumblers havingshackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, rotatably arranged on saidcore and adapted to engage said channels, and a key interposed betweenthe members of the core.

3. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination-of aplural-member core provided with tumbler-channels, compound tumblersrotatably arranged on said core, adapted to engage said channels, andhaving shackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, and a key interposedbetween the members of the core.

4. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, compound tumblers rotatably arranged thereon, andhaving shackleways adapted to receive a shackle, and a wedgeshaped keyinterposed between the members of the core.

5. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, tumblers rotatably arranged thereon, and havingshackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, and a longitudinally-taperingkey interposed between the members of the core.

6. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, tumblers rotatably arranged thereon, and havingshackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, and a longitudinally-taperingand transversely-wedge-shaped key interposed between the members of thecore.

7. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, the members of which are provided withlaterally-extending tumbler-supporting flanges, tumblers rotatablyarranged on said core, and having shackle-ways adapted to receive ashackle, a key interposed between the members of the core, and means forconfining said key in position. I i

8. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, the members of which are provided withtumbler-supporting flanges, compound tumblers rotatably arranged on saidcore, and having shackle ways adapted to receive a shackle, a keyinterposed between the members of said core and provided with achanneled head, and a tumbler associated for co operation with thekey-head to confine the key in position.

9. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core provided with tumbler-channels, and withtumblensupporting flanges, compound tumblers rotatably arranged on saidcore,

11. In a combination or permutation padi lock, the combination of aplural-member core, tumblers having shackle-ways rotatably arrangedthereon, a key interposed between the members of the core, means forconfining said key in position, and a shackle provided with channels toengage the tumblers.

12. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, provided with channels, tumblers having shackle-waysrotatably arranged thereon and engaging said channels, a key interposedbetween the members of the core, means for confining said key inposition, and a shackle provided with means to engage the tumblers.

13. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination of aplural-member core, provided with opposed cam-faces, tumblers rotatablyarranged thereon, and having shackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle,and a wedge-shaped key interposed between the members of the core.

14. In a combination or permutation padlock, the combination with aplural-member core,' tumblers rotatably arranged thereon, and havingshackle-ways adapted to receive a shackle, and a key interposedcentrally between the members of the core to provide shackle-ways.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

- ROWAN GIBSON. Witnesses O. E. HAMRIOK, J. P. CRow.

